by Ruby Steinbrecher | Jan 22, 2026 | Estate Planning, Trusts, Wills
You probably know you “should” have a will or a trust, but have you ever talked with your family about why your money exists in the first place? A simple family mission statement, combined with a comprehensive estate plan can dramatically increase the odds that your...
by Ruby Steinbrecher | Jan 9, 2026 | Estate Planning, Trusts, Wills
You open the door to your parents’ home for the first time since the funeral. Closets stuffed with decades of clothes. Cabinets filled with china no one uses. A garage packed with tools, holiday decorations, and boxes labeled “miscellaneous.” Drawers...
by Ruby Steinbrecher | Nov 22, 2025 | Estate Planning, Probate
When families think about probate, the first thing that comes to mind is usually time—the delays, the court hearings, the long wait before anyone sees their inheritance. But there’s another side of probate that’s just as painful: the costs. Probate isn’t just...
by Ruby Steinbrecher | Nov 7, 2025 | Estate Planning, Probate
One of the first questions families ask me after a loved one passes away is: “How long does probate take?” Unfortunately, the answer is rarely as quick or straightforward as anyone hopes. Probate is the court-supervised process of transferring assets after death. This...
by Ruby Steinbrecher | Oct 24, 2025 | Estate Planning, Probate
As we celebrate National Estate Planning Awareness Week, it’s the perfect time to shine a light on one of the most misunderstood (and dreaded) parts of the estate process: probate. Most people have heard of it, few understand how it really works, and almost no one...
